Ch..ch...ch...changes!

Changes are happening and I couldn't be happier! In April I set several goals in relation to my health, weight and fitness. If you read below you would know that my first fitness goal was to run a mile, which I accomplished and am now working towards running a 5k. Well, my first weight goal was to lose 25 lbs. I hit this mark about a week ago and before I got around to posting the news I lost more weight and have now lost 30 lbs total! THIRTY pounds! I couldn't be happier and more thrilled with my acomplishments. This week I have also really started to notice the changes in my shape (the fact that my clothes seem to fall off me could be a clue). It's crazy thinking back to the person I used to be and all the changes I have gone through since moving back here to Boise. For years I would read all the health and fitness magazines, read all the books, purchase the DVD's and start fitness plan after plan. Nothing ever lasted long and I would end up just dreaming of one day getting fit again. I am not sure how my switch finally got turned on, but it did, and I am more motivated and determined that I ever imagined I could be. I love setting goals for myself and working hard to accomplish them. I love going to the gym and working out hard. I love running. I love sweating. I love being able to play soccer agin and I love getting skinnier! I also love motivating other people through my own experiences and hard work.

I have a clear picture in my mind of how I am going to look and am excited to start working towards that next goal. In the words of Ali (Biggest Loser Season 5 winner) Believe It, Be It!

Fun on the 4th

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. I sure did. I went with my friends Chad, Logan, Laurie and Logans family to Arrowrock Dam to boat. We stayed on the lake for about 6 hours and had so much fun. I am very sunburnt now though. (I forgot to keep re-applying the sunscreen. It should fade to a tan soon and then I should be set for the rest of the summer.) I attempted to wakeboard, but couldn't get up. I am going again in a couple of weeks and I will try again though. The majority of the day was spent tubing in this flat taco looking tube shown above. It was SO MUCH FUN! Logan's dad would drive the boat in cicles and then we would cut back into the wake which would send us flying into the air. I loved it! I even got the highest jump of all of us that sent me high above the boat. The landing was a little rough but still fun.

Comparison pictures

Well, here are two pictures to see the changes that are underway with me. The first picture was taken in early Febuary in Miami. The second picture was taken about 2 weeks ago. I have to add that I can no longer wear the skirt, in fact I threw it out today. It has gotten so big that I had to hold it up while I walked or it would slide right off, and this is the same skirt that was tight on me in February!

I am so thrilled with my changes and am so excited to see them continue.

Main Street Mile

Well, if you have been around me or talked to me recently you would know that I have completely changed my life around since moving back to Boise, and in more ways than one. One of those ways has been taking charge and getting fit and healthy again. I typically work out 6 days a week and am watching the pounds melt off and the muscles grow. I have also never felt better and LOVE being active again. Anyways, I have set several goals for my journey. The first of these goals to run 1 mile without walking. I set the date for last night which was the Main Street Mile in downtown Boise. The Main Street Mile is a 1 mile charity race for Mens Prostate Health. My family joined my Dad and the J105 team and my race day was set. Chad has been working me hard the last month or so, running a mile to half mile after each workout. I had never ran the entire mile, I usually would have to slow and walk part of it. But, I felt more than prepared for the race and was determined to complete the mile and my first goal.

Well, I am happy to say that I DID IT!!!!!!! I may have been the last person to finish in my heat (only b/c a few nameless people cheated!) but I never once slowed down and I never once gave up. I gave it my all and came across the finish line a winner in my eyes. Now on to the next goal.....

Rafting

Yesterday, my friend Charity invited me and our friend Logan to join her family in a rafting trip with Brother Swinkles from her family's ward. We rafted the Payette River from Banks to Beehive Bend. It is about a 7 mile stretch and is rated a Class III. It is an easy stretch of the river, but most of Charity's family has not been rafting before so it was a great place to get them out and introduce them to rafting. It was a perfect day out on the river, gorgeous blue skies and SUN! We all had so much fun, even though we are a little sunburned today, and can't wait to go again! Thank you so much Charity for inviting Logan and I along with you and your family!

Erinn

This week is Hell Week at the gym. Basically it is a mark to see how far you have come and the sequence starts over again. Today we did Erinn again, which is described below. Well, last week I completed the workout with 33.5 sets. Today I did 37 sets!

Believing in Yourself

Each day I get a Healthy Reflections email and thought I would share today's because I liked it:

"Limitations can either define us or give us a challenge to outwit. When you look at your abilities, do you see boundaries and limits, or do you see possibilities and potential? Obsessing about weaknesses can blind us to the untapped abilities we already have. You have talent. Everyone does. The secret to success is to find that talent, develop it and push it as far as you can. Grandma Moses might have been a lousy bowler, Einstein probably couldn't sing a lick, Michelangelo could've been unable to speak well in public. So what? They knew what they were good at and rode that pony. Your talent might be right in front of you: where do you get the most compliments? What seems to come easily to you? What do people ask your advice for? Live there. Don't let the rest get in the way."

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do" John Wooden